What with the rolling petrol wars and the collapse of Nomura's dome deal, there's not a lot of room in the papers for media stories, which might explain the bizarre placing of the Telegraph's "BBC1 controller steps down today" story. For more details through the morning, visit www.mediatheguardian.com.
The Daily Telegraph
An unbylined, three-paragraph bulletin on page 6 claims that Peter Salmon, the controller of BBC 1, is stepping down today to take over control of BBC sport. The bookmaker William Hill has stopped taking bets on who will win Big Brother on Friday, with Craig 1-3 favourite, followed by Anna and Darren. The Republican campaign team of US presidential candidate George W Bush have been accused of hitting below the belt with adverts which flash the subliminal message "rats" next to the Democrat slogan.
The Sun
Still no sign in the Sun of Marina Hyde's UK Confidential column, which disappeared without trace or mention this week (for more details see MediaGuardian.co.uk's Media Monkey). But happily "Sexy TV Vet" Emma Inglis (from Vets in Practice) has dressed down to tell of her stalking nightmare on pages 12 and 13. Stalkers continue to be the new kiss and tell. All bets are off on Big Brother after a fun of bets on Craig at the terrible odds of 1-3. William Hill has closed the book for fear that someone has insider knowledge. Nasty Nick still backs Craig. (The Bizarre column is on to a winner with its "Lig Brother" guide to which cast member has been enjoying hospitality where)
The Guardian
Broadcaster and omnipotent brain Melvyn Bragg says critics who claim the arts in Britain are being dumbed down are "foolish citizens of culture." A study at Keele University argues that the media's idolising of female sports stars such as Anna Kournikova is part of a culture that discourages women from keeping fit for their health. The British branch of internet seller Amazon.com says the number of customers using the site has broken the 2m mark.
Daily Express
Lee Boardman, who plays Coronation Street baddie Jez Quigley, says he is glad his character is being killed off, as he is afraid of being typecast. Dutchman John Jadnanansing, a former Big Issue seller, could become a millionaire after a court ruled that he owns the Teletubbies brand name in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Daily Mail
Football fan Paul Stevenson is suing the police after the trauma of being arrested left him too stressed to watch his favourite TV programme, the Bill. Channel 4 bosses have axed Denise Van Outen's desperate Something for the Weekend show because it has lost its shock value. A hut bought in Margate by controversial artist Tracey Emin, with two pictures of the shy and retiring genius inside, has been bought by advertising tycoon Charles Saatchi for £75,000.
Financial Times
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that companies offering to connect people to the internet cannot use the word "free" in their advertisements unless the whole of the service, including the call charge or cable connection, is completely free of charge. A report published by recruitment consultancy Kelly Services UK predicts that telecoms and internet technology will allow 25% of the labour force to work from home by 2020. A report by accountancy giants PwC states that the technological revolution will make the global media and entertainment industry more competitive, thanks to an "unquenchable" consumer appetite for media in physical and digital forms. Chime Communications, the advertising and public relations group that owns Bell Pottinger Communications, is looking to buy high-technology online PR companies in the US and Germany. Jean-Marie Messier, chairman of freench media giant Vivendi, says the company's shareholder base and ownership will have to shift to the US if it is to become a market leader.
The Times
Mercury Music prize winner Damon Gough, AKA Badly Drawn Boy, said of his surprise victory last night: "I assumed I was never going to win it, 'cos good things don't usually happen to good people." American TV giant NBC has blown Big Brother out of the water by revealing plans for a show which will send a group of ordinary Americans on a Russian cosmonaut training mission, to compete for the chance to go into space.
The Independent
A psychologist at Leicester University, with too much time on his hands, has found that words used in best-selling pop songs can predict an economic recession. New York advertising agency J Walter Thompson is in trouble after a shoot in Peru for a beer commercial damaged an Inca temple. Sportswear titans Nike are hoping that the Sydney Olympics will revive flagging fortunes, after a two-year period in which sales growth has tumbled.
Tabloid Story of the Day
The Daily Star runs a subtle double-page spread of photos showing Big Brother favourite Craig stark naked on a beach. The front page headline screams "TV Craig shows there's no shortage at his pump."
Other useful sites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk
http://www.ft.com
http://www.the-times.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.independent.co.uk
http://www.iht.com
http://www.the-sun.co.uk
http://www.mirror.co.uk
http://express.lineone.net
http://www.megastar.co.uk
http://www.economist.com
http://www.ananova.com
